Bolam Lake Country Park — Attraction in Belsay

Great for a Sunday walk (or any day really) either solo, with the kids or your four legged friend. There are around three good sized car parks, located at various points around the lake, which have recently turned to a pay and display so bring change, £1.60 for an hour or £3.00 for the day. Stone paths and board walks circle the lake, most of the paths are in good condition and I think would be accessible for a wheelchair user. The lake is surrounded by predominantly broad leafed tree species with some conifer/ pine species, great for birds and other wildlife, lots of fungi. There's a decent sized open space to play but I'd imagine it gets busy on nice days. At the main car park you will find a cafe serving drinks, snacks and small plates, we had a filter coffee which we enjoyed, they are limited to filter coffee although you can get a Cappuccino/ latte but these are instant. Although we didn't eat the food served to the neighbouring table looked and smelled very good. You can also buy locally made/ themed gifts/ crafts for a souvenir. There are also public toilets here, the gents were basic but clean. We love a walk around here, the air is fresh and the surroundings are beautiful, highly...

The lake, woodland & Park are beautiful. However, despite the signs and website, it is not truely manual wheelchair accessible. The disabled car parking is excellent, with free blue badge zones or free parking in any parking space when your blue badge is displayed. However, beyond the parking tarmacadam area, the paths were heavily gravelled, and in many places, the surface too poor, rough, or steep to push a manual wheelchair over. The information boards indicated wheelchair accessible paths, but sadly, we found them in poor condition for manual wheerchair users, and I suspect other mobility vehicles. This is a great shame as we would have loved to explore the area further. On the upside, the cafe was an oasis. It was a little difficult to access, but with kind assistance, we had help with the door. The staff were friendly & welcoming. The menu was extensive and reasonably priced. The broth was gorgeous! On the whole, I believe the local Council does a marvellous job, making the outstanding beauty of Northumberland accessible to many. In the case of Bolam, disabled access needs more attention & upgrading. Hence, the...

Love this place. I used to come here for days out as a child and I'm now living back in the area and visit frequently with and without my dogs. It has a lovely relaxed atmosphere where you can just take a moment (or several) and relax, gather your thoughts. Walking around the lake itself takes around 20-30 minutes if you're strolling. You can take yourself off on different routes if you prefer to make it a longer walk. There are plenty of places to sit down and take a break too if needed. Take a picnic, snacks, a drink and enjoy your day there! There's also lots of birds you can see other than the Swans and ducks if you take time to look, take a pair of binoculars. Unfortunately the birdhide is still closed due to covid. Parking for the 1st hour is free. If you're going to be there for a good few hours it's only £3 anyway for the full day! Toilet facilities are open again as is the coffee shop to take drinks and snacks...